Hyderabad, March 17: War of words flew thick and fast between between chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu in the state Assembly today.
During a debate on ‘Power supply situation in Andhra Pradesh’, Kiran Kumar Reddy took exception to Naidu’s claims of introduction of power sector reforms during the TDP regime. “If you (Naidu) had done all good things for the state then why the people made you to sit in the opposition? You had also claimed to be the state’s chief minister for 20-year period, but it was the people who had decided who should sit in the CM’s post. Despite promising ‘all-free’ in last elections, people made the TDP sit in the opposition,’’ he remarked.
In response, Chandrababu Naidu said:
“You have become the chief minister only at the mercy of Sonia Gandhi. You are not elected by the people. You will not remain in the CM’s post if your party high command rejects you. Whereas I became the chief minister with the people’s support.”
At that point, the TDP chief led his party MLAs on a walk out from the House protesting the government’s ‘callousness’ on the power situation.
At the very moment, the chief minister rose to accuse the leader of the opposition of being a ‘party hopper’ and one who usurped power by backstabbing his father-in-law.
Kiran said he would continue as Chief Minister as long as he enjoyed the confidence of party MLAs and Sonia Gandhi.
–Agencies